The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (191 page)
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On the FIRST of March, the crows begin to search
1846Proverbs relating to Seasons, & c.
39
On the first of March, the crows begin to search. Crows are supposed to begin pairing on this day.
1847
Popular Rhymes of Scotland
(ed. 2) 165
On the first of March, The craws begin to search; By the first o'April, They are sitting still.
1906
Country Diary of Edwardian Lady
(1977) 132
By the 1.
st
of March the crows begin to search, By the 1.
st
of April they are sitting still, By the 1.
st
of May they are flown away, Creeping greedy back again With October wind and rain.
calendar lore
It is the FIRST step that is difficult
The proverb has various forms. The story to which the French saying alludes is referred to in quot. 1979. Cf. Fr.
ce n'est que le premier pas qui coûte
, it is only the first step that costs.
c
1596
et al.
Sir Thomas More
11
Would I were so far on my journey. The first stretch is the worst methinks.
1616
Dict.
(rev.ed.) 576
The first step is as good as halfe ouer.
1876
Wi-Ne-Ma & her People
iv.
He had fortified himself against the charms of the Indian maiden, as he thought, but consented to visit her. Ah! my man, have you not learned that when the first step is taken the next follows easily.
1979
Backfire is Hostile
xi.
St. Denis was executed …Afterwards he picked up his head and walked for six miles …The wise man said, ‘The distance .. is not important. It was the first step that was difficult.’
1991
‘’
Only Game
vii. 193
What is it they said about that Frenchman who walked three miles after his head had been chopped off? It's the first step that counts.
beginnings and endings
ce n'est que le premier pas qui coûte
, it is only the first step that costs.
c1596
et al.
Sir Thomas More
11
Would I were so far on my journey. The first stretch is the worst methinks.
1616
Dict.
(rev.ed.) 576
The first step is as good as halfe ouer.
1876
Wi-Ne-Ma & her People
iv.
He had fortified himself against the charms of the Indian maiden, as he thought, but consented to visit her. Ah! my man, have you not learned that when the first step is taken the next follows easily.
1979
Backfire is Hostile
xi.
St. Denis was executed …Afterwards he picked up his head and walked for six miles …The wise man said, ‘The distance .. is not important. It was the first step that was difficult.’
1991
‘’
Only Game
vii. 193
What is it they said about that Frenchman who walked three miles after his head had been chopped off? It's the first step that counts.
beginnings and endingsFIRST things first
1894(title)
First things first: addresses to young men.
1920
Yorkshire Suburb
136
The dear lady was .. incapable .. of putting first things first.
1979
‘’
Penny Murders
iv.
They dropped the talking; first things first, as Kate always felt about a pleasant meal.
1990
Washington Deceased
xxi. 176
‘We need Billikin's cooperation in the long run, but we need Steven's cooperation in the next twelve hours. The operative principle is first things first.’
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